TEMPE -- Arizona Cardinals' first-round draft pick Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie plans to take a moment before he takes the field for his first NFL practice today in Tempe.

The workout will mark the start of the cornerback's pro football career.

It also will mark the end of a long journey that started in Florida and went through Tennessee State, well off the path taken by many NFL prospects.

Rodgers-Cromartie says he plans to sit in the locker room for a few minutes with his helmet on and then close his eyes and just look back over all the things he's been through.

Then he'll go to work, joining his new teammates for mandatory mini-camp.

The club expects Rodgers-Cromartie to beef up a pass defense that ranked 28th in the NFL a year ago.

The Cardinals have compared Rodgers-Cromartie to former Pro Bowler Aeneas Williams.

Like Rodgers-Cromartie, Williams was a small-school product, selected out of Southern by the Cardinals in 1991's third round.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)